Submitted by admin on Wed, 2005-11-02 09:00. ::
few years ago I had a Moslem player on my Newton Youth Soccer team. As it is a religious obligation of any practicing Moslem, he fasted during the month of Ramadan, which happened to coincide in part with our season. He came to every practice and every game, suited up to play, with no benefit of water or food from sunrise to sunset during the entire lunar month. I admired his sense of self and respect for his traditions. I also noted the paradox of diversity in this community as some of my other players gorged on orange slices, cookies, water and ades of different colors.
I think if the manners of others had bothered my Moslem player or his family that he would have excused himself gently until Ramadan had passed. Not for a minute would have I succumbed to the pressure that others should not snack at practice or game time because the one or two among them were fasting. So pardon me if I do not understand the hare-brained genius thinking behind the decision by the principal at Underwood Elementary School to do away with the Halloween motif because a handful of parents believed that the school's traditional celebrations offended their religious beliefs.
Nobody among the gutless wonders of Newton politics - from the mayor to the Board of Alderman, the School Committee members and the superintendent of the schools - has had the courage to overrule the erring principal or say to these parents "Enough, already. If Halloween offends your religious sensibilities, keep your kids home for that day."
This is cache, read story here
